Water skier safety alarm

ABSTRACT

A safety alarm flag is mounted to a ski towboat so that, when a skier towed by a boat has fallen, the flag is automatically raised to be visible by operators of other boats in the vicinity and also by the operator of the boat that had been towing the downed skier. A flag-carrying arm is pivotally mounted to the ski towboard and spring-urged to upright alarm position. A tension line is connected to the flag arm above its pivot and guided downwardly and rearwardly along the boat rail for connection to the skier towline. Fluid damping is provided for control of the raising motion of the flag-carrying arm.

llnite d States Patent [191 Miller 1 WATER SKIER SAFETY ALARM [75] Inventor: Nathan W. Miller, Chino, Calif.

[7 31 Assigneer Flag K4315 171, C1756, Calif.

[22] Filed: Oct. 2, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 294,374

3,602,188 8/1971 Penaflor ..116/132 Primary Examiner-Louis J. Capozi Attorney-Allan Rothenberg, Richard L. Gausewitz and-Richard F. Carr et a1.

. [5 7] ABSTRACT A safety alarm flag is mounted to a ski towboat so that, when a skier towed by a boat has fallen, the flag is automatically raised to be visible by operators of other boats in the vicinity and also by the operator of the boat that had been towing the downed skier. A flag-carrying arm is pivotally mounted to the ski towboard and spring-urged to upright alarm position. A tension line is connected to the flag arm above its pivot and guided downwardly and rearwardly along the boat rail for connection to the skier towline. Fluid damping is provided for control of the raising motion of the flag-carrying arm.

7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures WATER SKIER SAFETY ALARM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to automatic water skier alarm devices, and more, particularly concerns a fallen skier alarm flag that is automatically raised when a skier releases the towrope and which is readily visible 1 to operators of nearby boats and to the operator of the boat on which the alarm is mounted.

2. Description of Prior Art As power boating in general and water skiing in particular become increasingly popular, the hazards to all concerned multiply at even greater rates. Among the various hazards involved in large numbers of highspeed boats operating in relatively confined areas, the danger to the fallen skier is certainly .one of the greatest. The downed skier can do little to evade an oncoming boat and has little chance of warning the boat operator of his presence. Concomitantly, the downed skier is difficult to see and the average boat operator may not be aware of the presence of a person in the water until his boat has approached too close for evasive action. Should injury occur to the skier during his fall, the dangers are aggravated and intensified. Because of the extreme vulnerability of the downed skier, it is common practice, and required by law in many areas, to have an observer aboard the skier towboat in addition to the boat operator. It is the duty of the observer to closely watch the skier and to immediately signal to the boat operator and to other boats in the vicinity when the towed skier has fallen. The signal is commonly the raising of the arm or a flag, which signal is known to all as a warning to be on the lookout for a downed skier who may otherwise be run down by boats in the area.

Various types of automatic signaling devices have been devised as an attempt to aid the signal provided by the observer or, in some cases, to replace the observer entirely. Thus, US. Pat. No. 3,l09,075 to Ratcliff describes an arrangement employing an electrical switch that operates a suitable bell or light in the towing boat when a skier has fallen. This switching arrangement is complex and unreliable. Further, the electrical connections are subject to degradation in the relatively harsh water environment. In US. Pat. No. 3,602,188, there is shown a flag system mounted at the stern of a towboat in which an arrangement is provided to longitudinally raise a flagstafl and unfurl the flag contained in a flag housing. The mechanism of this patent is complex and expensive. It demands costly and expensive installation, requiring an aperture through the boat transom and, further, employs an additional electrical signal to alert the operator of the boat on which it is mounted.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple, reliable and readily mounted automatic alarm system that is easily visible to the operator of the boat on which it is mounted and also visible to operators of other nearby boats.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Incarrying out principles of the present invention in accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof, a safety alarm for automatically signaling fall of a water skier employs a shaft that is spring-urged toward a first position and fluid-damped in its motion towards such position. The shaft is pivotally mounted to a ski towboat forward of the operators position and carries a flag arm having tension means extending from a point above the shaft downwardly and rearwardly, to be guided to the rear of the boat for connection to a skier towline. Drag of the towed skier pivots the flag arm downwardly against the action of the spring and holds the flag in normal position against the boat rail. Release of the towline by the skier allows the spring and damping mechanism to rapidly but smoothly pivot the flag arm to an upright position wherein the flag is immediately visible to all.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates a skier towed by a boat having the invention mounted thereto.

FIG. 2 shows the boat and flag arm of FIG. 1 with the towrope released by the skier.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the flag arm and mounting.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the flag arm and mounting.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the arm of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the spring and damping mechanism employed in this invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross section of the mechanism shown in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Shown in FIG. 1 is a skier 10 being towed by a tow line 12 that has first and second branches 14, 16 normally fixed to suitable fittings at opposite sides of the rear of a towboat 18. At a forward portion of the boat sits the operator 22 who is normally looking ahead to insure a clear path for the boat. Mounted to the side of the boat at a point alongside or slightly forward of the operators position is an operating mechanism 24 for a flag-carrying arm 26 to which is mounted a flag 28.

With the skier upright and being towed as shown in FIG. 1, tension is imposed upon the towline 12, which, in turn, retains the flag arm 26 in the substantially horizontal position shown in FIG. 1 by means to be more particularly described hereinafter.

As shown in FIG. 2, when there is a decreased tension on the towline 12, as when towing is just about to be initiated for a skier in the water, or when a towed skier has fallen, the actuating mechanism 24 raises the flag arm 26 to afford a widely visible display of flag 28. With the flag arm and flag in the position shown in FIG. 2, the common skier-downed-alarm-signal, the raising of the flag 28, is readily visible, not only to operators of other boats in the vicinity, but also to the operator 22 of the boat 18. Thus, should a skier fall while being towed, the operator of boat 18 is immediately aware of the fall and may more rapidly return to pick up his fallen companion. Further, other boats in the vicinity observing the raised flag 28 will be more wary and more likely to observe and avoid the fallen skier.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 7, flag-carrying arm 26 is fixedly secured to a shaft 32 of the operating mechanism 24. Shaft 26 may be of any one of a vareity of suitably configured rigid constructions and is shown in the preferred embodiment as being formed of a strip of tapered steel that is smaller at its free end and is flattened at its lower end, as at 34, for securement to the shaft 32 of operating mechanism 24. To enhance rigidity of the arm 26, it is formed with a cross section that is angulated, being formed of two legs 36, 38 (FIG. 5) that are symmetrically disposed about a plane containing the axis 40 of shaft 32. The legs 36, 38 are angularly directed relative to such axis. Thus, increased stiffness and rigidity are obtained in a simple structure that is most economically formed.

At the upper end of arm 26 an elongated substantially cylindrical sleeve 42 is integrally formed or otherwise suitably secured to firmly receive the stafi 44 of a flag 28.

Fixedly connected to an intermediate portion of flagcarrying arm 26 at a substantial distance above the actuating mechanism shaft 32 is an appropriate tension securing device, such as an eye 46, that will be connected to a line in a manner to be described more par ticularly hereinafter.

Although a number of actuating mechanisms may be employed for resiliently urging the flag-carrying arm 26 to the alarm position shown in FIG. 2 from the inactive position of FIG. 1, it is preferred to employ a torsion spring mechanism having adequate motion damping. The damping of the mechanism improves operation and enhances durability and reliability since the parts thereby relieved, at least partially, of the shock caused by the arm being forcibly driven to its terminal upright position. Further, accidental injury to a person or object in the path of the spring-urged arm is greatly minimized by the damping of the spring-urged motion of the arm. Accordingly, the shaft 32 is mounted in an actuator housing 48 (FIG. 6) having a rigid depending lug 50 for securement to a bracket 52 (FIG. 4) that is bolted or otherwise rigidly attached to the deck of the ski towboat 18 at a point forward and to the side of the operator. Lug 50 is rigidly bolted or otherwise fixedly secured to the mounting bracket 52.

Mounted within the housing 48 in torsional driving connection with shaft 32 is a torsional spring 54 (FIG. 6) that is connected to pivot the shaft 32 from a position wherein the shaft and arm 26 are substantially horizontal (as shown in FIG. 1) to a position wherein the shaft and arm 26 are substantially upright (as shown in FIG. 2). In order to restrain the spring-urged motion of the shaft together with the arm fixed thereto, there is provided a damping mechanism comprising a viscous liquid and rotor 56. Adjustment member 58 is journaled in the housing 48 and connected to the torsion spring 54 so as to enable adjustment of the driving force exerted by the spring. Further details of actuating mechanism 24 are shown in US. Pat. No. 3,316,582, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference as though fully set forth.

The simplicity of construction and operation of the described safety alarm is due in part to the manner in which the tension on the ski towrope is employed to maintain the alarm in its inactive position (the position shown in FIG. 1). For such operation, tension means is provided, including a first eye or connecting device 46 fixed to the arm 26, as previously described, at a point suitably distant from and above the pivot axis of shaft 32 to afford a lever arm that enhances the force of the tension in the ski rope. This tensile force in the ski rope acts on the eye 46 in a direction that is rearwardly and downwardly of the boat, along the tension line 60 (FIG. 2) which extends to and through a second eye or pulley 66 that is fixed to the boat at a distance rearwardly of the mechanism 24. The second eye 66 is displaced rearwardly of mechanism 24 by a distance equal to or preferably greater than the distance between shaft 32 and the first eye 46 so as to enable the eye 46 to clear the eye 66 with the arm in inactive position. Tension line extends through the guiding eye 66 and thence through one or more additional guiding eyes 68, all of eyes 66, 68 being in mutual alignment. Rearwardly of one of eyes 68, tension line 60 is suitably connected to line 16 of the towrope Y" 14, 16. The skier grasps the handle of the towline 12 but, since he is in the water and line 12 is slack, there is little or no rearwardly directed force on the tension line 60, so that the spring 54 will urge and hold the shaft 32 and arm 26 in the illustrated or upright alarm position of FIG. 2. Since the skier is nearly totally immersed in the water and substantially without a forward motion, when starting in this manner, it is desired to have the alarm flag in its alarm position to warn nearby boat operators of his vulnerability. As the towing boat gathers speed and tension increases in towrope 12, the skier rises in the water and commences to ski. During skiing, the tension in rope 12 is near its maximum, which is more than enough to overcome the torsional drive of spring 54, at least in part, because of the increased moment due to the connection of the tension line 60 at point 46 which is displaced from the pivot axis. Therefore, the flag arm is pulled to and retained in the inactive position, as shown in FIG. 1.

As soon as the skier relinquishes his hold on the towrope 12, the force of the torsion spring 54 is no longer overcome by line tension and the arm is driven to the upright alarm position. During such spring-urged drive, motion of the arm is restrained by the action of the viscous damping mechanism. The arm and flag remain in the alarm position until tension is once again applied to the towline 12 and tension line 60.

There has been described an automatically operable safety alarm for signaling fall of a water skier, which alarm employs a mechanism of utmost simplicity, yet is reliable, durable and functional, providing a readily visible signal for operators of nearby boats and also for the operator of the boat upon which the alarm is mounted.

The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of this invention being limited solely by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A safety alarm for automatically signaling fall of a water skier towed by a boat, said alarm comprising A. a shaft adapted to be mounted to a boat for pivotal motion about a substantially horizontal axis extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of said boat,

B. spring means for urging said shaft toward a first position,

C. fluid damping means for restricting the rate of rotation of said shaft,

D. a flag-carrying arm mounted to said shaft for motion therewith,

I. said arm extending upwardly from said shaft when the shaft is in said first position,

2. tension means on said arm at a point thereof spaced from said shaft, said tension means adapted to be connected to a skier towline,

3. said arm and shaft being pivotable to a second position against the urging of said spring means,

4. said arm extending substantially horizontally and rearwardly from said shaft in said second position thereof,

whereby drag of a skier being towed by said towline will exert a rearwardly directed force on said tension means to cause said flag-carrying arm to pivot with said shaft to said second position, and 'whereby, when the towed skier is down and releases said towline, the rearward force on said tension means is released and said spring means will drive said shaft and arm against the restraint of said damping means to said first position wherein said arm extends upwardly to thereby automatically signal fall of the skier.

2. The alarm of claim 1 wherein said tension means comprises a device fixed to said arm for attachment to a line, and guide means adapted to be mounted to said boat rearwardly of said shaft for guiding a line attached to said fixed device.

3. The alarm of claim 1 wherein said shaft and flagcarrying arm are adapted to be mounted to the boat at a point forward of the boat operator whereby, when a skier falls and the flag-carrying ann is automatically raised, the upright flag arm is visible to the operator of the boat on which the alarm is mounted.

4. The alarm of claim 1 wherein said tension means comprises a first eye fixed to said flag-carrying arm, a second eye, adapted to be fixed to said boat at a distance to the rear of said shaft, and a line connected to said first eye and extending downwardly and rearwardly from said first eye to said second eye, and extending rearwardly through said second eye for connection with a skier towline.

5. The alarm of claim 4 wherein said flag arm is longitudinally tapered and is formed with a cross section having a pair of mutually angulated legs symmetrically 

1. A safety alarm for automatically signaling fall of a water skier towed by a boat, said alarm comprising A. a shaft adapted to be mounted to a boat for pivotal motion about a substantially horizontal axis extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of said boat, B. spring means for urging said shaft toward a first position, C. fluid damping means for restricting the rate of rotation of said shaft, D. a flag-carrying arm mounted to said shaft for motion therewith,
 1. said arm extending upwardly from said shaft when the shaft is in said first position,
 2. tension means on said arm at a point thereof spaced from said shaft, said tension means adapted to be connected to a skier towline,
 3. said arm and shaft being pivotable to a second position against the urging of said spring means,
 4. said arm extending substantially horizontally and rearwardly from said shaft in said second position thereof, whereby drag of a skier being towed by said towline will exert a rearwardly directed force on said tension means to cause said flag-carrying arm to pivot with said shaft to said second position, and whereby, when the towed skier is down and releases said towline, the rearward force on said tension means is released and said spring means will drive said shaft and arm against the restraint of said damping means to said first position wherein said arm extends upwardly to thereby automatically signal fall of the skier.
 2. tension means on said arm at a point thereof spaced from said shaft, said tension means adapted to be connected to a skier towline,
 2. The alarm of claim 1 wherein said tension means comprises a device fixed to said arm for attachment to a line, and guide means adapted to be mounted to said boat rearwardly of said shaft for guiding a line attached to said fixed device.
 3. said arm and shaft being pivotable to a second position against the urging of said spring means,
 3. The alarm of claim 1 wherein said shaft and flag-carrying arm are adapted to be mounted to the boat at a point forward of the boat operator whereby, when a skier falls and the flag-carrying arm is automatically raised, the upright flag arm is visible to the operator of the boat on which the alarm is mounted.
 4. The alarm of claim 1 wherein said tension means comprises a first eye fixed to said flag-carrying arm, a second eye, adapted to be fixed to said boat at a distance to the rear of said shaft, and a line connected to said first eye and eXtending downwardly and rearwardly from said first eye to said second eye, and extending rearwardly through said second eye for connection with a skier towline.
 4. said arm extending substantially horizontally and rearwardly from said shaft in said second position thereof, whereby drag of a skier being towed by said towline will exert a rearwardly directed force on said tension means to cause said flag-carrying arm to pivot with said shaft to said second position, and whereby, when the towed skier is down and releases said towline, the rearward force on said tension means is released and said spring means will drive said shaft and arm against the restraint of said damping means to said first position wherein said arm extends upwardly to thereby automatically signal fall of the skier.
 5. The alarm of claim 4 wherein said flag arm is longitudinally tapered and is formed with a cross section having a pair of mutually angulated legs symmetrically disposed with respect to the axis of said shaft.
 6. The alarm of claim 5 wherein said flag arm has a free end form with an elongated substantially cylindrical flagstaff holder.
 7. The alarm of claim 6 wherein said shaft and flag-carrying arm are adapted to be mounted to the boat at a point forward of the boat operator whereby, when a skier falls and the flag-carrying arm is automatically raised, the upright flag arm is visible to the operator of the boat on which the alarm is mounted. 